CHAPTER IX 



SOUVENIR DE LA MALMAISON CARNATIONS 

 BY JAMES FINDLAY McLEOD, F.R.H.S. 



AMONGST the many types of Carnations, none can compare 

 favourably with that known as Souvenir de la Malmaison. 

 The flowers are richer in colour and sweeter in perfume 

 than those of any other Carnation, whilst a first-class 

 specimen plant, with its handsome, curved leaves of glau- 

 cous green, is an object of admiration and a source of 

 pride to the cultivator. It is a source of pride because 

 the "Malmaison" Carnation has not been found easy of 

 cultivation in all gardens ; on the contrary, until quite 

 recently, it has succeeded to its best in comparatively 

 few instances. The cause may be reasonably attributed 

 to imperfect knowledge on the part of the cultivator, or 

 shall I say to a failure to thoroughly understand the 

 peculiar habits and requirements of this type, which 

 certainly differs in some respects from all others ? At 

 the same time, the general culture is not very different to 

 that afforded the tree or perpetual-flowering varieties, in 

 its main characteristics, the chief variation being that the 

 Malmaison plants require a cooler atmosphere, especially 

 during winter, when they must not be subjected to anything 

 likely to stimulate them into making growth. 



Much has been said and written as to the adaptability 



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